UCSC police force demonstrators out of Kerr Hall

SANTA CRUZ -- Demonstrators say police officers in riot gear began forcibly removing dozens of barricaded students from UC Santa Cruz's Clark Kerr Hall at dawn, and after an hour-long standoff, students vacated the administration building.

Protesters have been occupying offices in the building for three days in opposition to a 32 percent fee hike, employee furloughs and other budget cuts. Campus officials had warned of possible arrests on Friday but continued to negotiate with students and faculty advocates until Saturday night, when both sides say talks broke down.

After students refused to heed an order from police to evacuate the building at 7 a.m. today, officers moved in with batons to force protesters out, according to several people at the scene.

The 70 students barricaded inside Kerr Hall with cables and office equipment barring the doors eventually left along with 30 students who had been standing outside blocking the entrance, said graduate student Don Kingsbury, a spokesman for the group. Protesters then began marching to Kresge Town Hall for what he called "a victory rally."

No any arrests were immediately reported, though a faculty member received minor injuries during a fall from a second-floor railing. While on the phone with the Sentinel shortly after dawn, Kingsbury described a chaotic scene after officers from the University of California police force and Santa Cruz Sheriff's Office arrived.

About 30 demonstrators could be heard chanting "peaceful protest" just before Kingsbury said officers moved in a line toward the students, who were singing "Let It Be." Kingsbury said he watched police strike several students in the chest area with a baton.

He also said officers shoved other students who had amassed on a second-floor deck outside an entrance stairwell. Anthropology professor Mark Anderson, who was among several faculty members on site to observe the showdown, was caught in the crush on the deck and fell off of the railing several feet to the ground, Kingsbury said.

Campus spokesman Jim Burns said he could not verify the level of force used to remove students this morning or the events surrounding Anderson's fall. But he said the decision to remove students came after days of repeated warnings that they were unlawfully occupying the building.

"They have had every opportunity to leave," Burns said.

History faculty member Emily Honig, who has been on the scene with students since 5 a.m., verified the story that police arrived in riot gear and cornered demonstrators on the second-floor deck. She confirmed that Anderson fell while trying to get away.

"There were a lot of people pressed against the railing of the deck," she said. "In trying to get out, (Anderson) fell and landed on his back."

Anderson was taken away on a stretcher to Dominican Hospital, but was later released. Professor Dana Frank, who was also present at the showdown this morning, confirmed that Anderson was resting at home and had no major injuries.

Honig said she could not verify whether police actually struck students with batons but said officers were certainly using the weapons to move demonstrators out the way.

"It seems really regrettable to me the way in which police force was called out in full gear and weaponry," she said. "I don't think the situation demanded it."

UCSC officials initially refused to admit a Sentinel photographer this morning, saying police had insisted the campus be closed for safety concerns. Burns said police believe a media presence could incite demonstrators further, but the photographer was eventually permitted.